How To Choose The Best Online Casino Bonuses In 2023

Posted: July 26, 2023

Updated: July 26, 2023

One of the first things you'll see when you visit a new online casino for the first time is the bonus offer. This is often written in flashy writing to attract your attention. Virtually all of these offers are to encourage you to sign up. But before you do so, it might be wise to look into the nitty-gritty of these rewards to see if they really offer players real value. Many bonuses come with strict terms and conditions, making it difficult to withdraw any winnings. There will also be time limits with regards to how quickly you are oblidged to play them through. In any cases, you're limited to very few slots titles. We suggest you read through this guide first, and only then decide on the best casino bonus for yourself.

Today, you're going to uncover the most enticing promotional offers from reputable and secure online casinos with our assistance. Here at Gamingzion.com, we provide exclusive bonus information that enables you to claim the most generous rewards for your online casino sign-up. Our team of online casino experts diligently evaluates all bonus terms and conditions. It's our job to ensure you're fully aware of any restrictions or limitations tied to each offer. As such, this is your ultimate guide to finding the finest online casino bonuses, allowing you to maximize your winnings.

The Ins And Outs Of Online Casino Bonuses

Online casino bonuses serve as incentives offered by gambling platforms to attract and retain players. These bonuses come in various forms. The general aim is to enhance players' value and overall gaming experience. However, before you opt for a bonus, here are some essential factors to consider. Bonus Types: Online casinos offer different types of bonuses, including welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, cashback bonuses, loyalty bonuses, and high-roller bonuses. Bonus Amount: The bonus amount varies depending on the specific promotion. Some online casino bonuses may provide a fixed amount, while others are based on a percentage of the player's deposit. Terms and Conditions: All bonuses are subject to specific terms and conditions. We strongly suggest that all players carefully read and comprehend before claiming the offer. These terms outline the bonus rules, restrictions, and playthrough requirements.

It's important to note that claiming a bonus offer from a casino is not mandatory. Players have the option to simply deposit money without engaging with the playthrough requirements. Deposited funds are immediately available for withdrawal.

Various Types Of Casino Bonus And Promo Offers

Online casino bonuses in the UK provide new players with a rewarding experience as online casinos seek to acknowledge and appreciate their customers. There are numerous types of bonus offers available for players to benefit from. Below we've listed some of the most common promotions you may encounter.

How Do Terms And Conditions Affect Online Casino Bonuses?

It's true that the sign-up bonuses offered by online casinos may appear straightforward at first. But the accompanying terms and conditions introduce certain complexities to the deals. Here are some key considerations to bear in mind:

Playthrough Requirements

Playthrough requirements, also known as wagering requirements, dictate the number of times you must bet the online casino bonus before you can make a withdrawal. For instance, if you receive a $100 bonus with a 10x playthrough requirement, you would need to wager a total of $1,000 in order to convert the bonus funds into withdrawable cash. It's essential to remember that casino games involve both winning and losing. As a result, fulfilling playthrough requirements is entirely possible. But much depends on factors such as Return to Player (RTP) percentages.

Let's take an example where a game has a 98% RTP, and you wager $100 with a 5x playthrough. Based on the RTP, the average outcome for a $100 playthrough would be as follows:

$100 at 98% RTP = $98
$98 at 98% RTP = $96.04
$96.04 at 98% RTP = $94.12
$94.12 at 98% RTP = $92.24
$92.24 at 98% RTP = $90.40

Remember that the RTP is not a guaranteed outcome of any specific casino game, as it relies on random chance. However, playing a game with a 98% RTP, like European roulette, would increase your chances of having withdrawable cash. Even after completing a 5x or even 15x playthrough.

Game Contribution

Certain games, typically slots, may contribute 100% towards meeting the playthrough requirements. While others contribute less, such as 50%, 20%, 10%, or even 0%. Games like online blackjack and baccarat often do not contribute to playthrough requirements due to their high odds (RTP of 99% or better). It's crucial to carefully read the bonus's terms and conditions to ensure you choose games that contribute 100% towards the playthrough.

An Example - Slots vs Blackjack

For instance, let's assume that slots contribute 100% to the playthrough requirement, while blackjack only contributes 10%. If you exclusively play slots, every $1 you wager will count as $1 towards the $1,500 requirement. However, if you play blackjack, every $1 you wager will only count as $0.10 towards the requirement. This implies that you would need to wager 10 times as much on blackjack to meet the same playthrough requirement as you would on slots. To illustrate, if you only play slots, you'll need to wager a total of $1,500 to meet the playthrough requirement. Conversely, if you only play blackjack, you'll need to bet a total of $15,000 ($1,500 ÷ 0.1) to meet the same requirement.

Bonus Funds Are Used Last

The online casino bonuses received from an online casino is directly tied to the deposited amount. So when you deposit money and get a bonus, the playthrough requirement, which is the amount you must wager before withdrawing winnings, applies to both the deposit and bonus amounts, not just the bonus itself. It's essential to note that you will use your deposited money before utilising the bonus money. If you decide to opt out of the sign-up bonus after depositing but have already lost your deposit, it may not be such a good idea.

For instance, let's say you deposit $100 and receive a 100% deposit-match bonus. This gives you $200 to play with. In this scenario, the playthrough requirement will be based on the combined amount of $200. If you wager a total of $200 and still have $100 remaining, that remaining $100 will be in the form of bonus money. Not $50 in real money and $50 in bonus money. Keep in mind that you need to fulfil the playthrough requirement before you can withdraw any winnings linked to the bonus money.

How To Claim Online Casino Bonuses

Here's a step-by-step guide on claiming an online casino sign-up bonus:

Research: Find an appealing bonus from a reputable and licensed online casino. We highly recommend King Billy Casino.
Check Terms & Conditions: Go through the bonus terms and conditions to understand the playthrough requirements, eligible games, and any other restrictions.
Sign Up: Create an account at the online casino by providing your personal information. This should include name, address, and email.
Verify Your Account: Verify your account by submitting necessary documents. Such things as a copy of your ID and proof of address.
Deposit: Add funds to your account using one of the payment methods offered by the casino.
Claim Bonus: Depending on the casino's policies, you might need to enter a bonus code during the deposit process or claim the bonus through the promotions page.
Play Casino Games: Start playing your favorite online casino games using the bonus funds.
Meet Requirements: Ensure you meet the playthrough requirements before attempting to withdraw any winnings.
Withdraw: Once you meet the playthrough requirements, you can request a withdrawal of your winnings, including any applicable bonus funds.

How We Evaluate And Rank An Online Casino Bonus

Ranking online casino bonuses involves a comprehensive assessment of various factors to ensure fair and beneficial rankings. Below, we highlight the key considerations we take into account:

Overall Bonus Amount

We start by examining the total bonus amount as it is the most apparent aspect of any casino bonus. However, we recognize that the bonus amount alone isn't the sole determinant of a bonus's value. Other crucial factors play a role in our rankings.

Terms And Conditions

Our rankings go beyond the bonus amount to focus on the terms and conditions associated with each offer. Clear and concise terms are essential, as they heavily influence the amount of withdrawable cash a player can ultimately obtain. Playthrough requirements, in particular, are critical in determining the amount you can cash out. For instance, a $100 bonus with a 1x playthrough requirement would require wagering $100 to withdraw. While a $100 bonus with a 5x playthrough would necessitate wagering $500.

Eligible Games

The variety and quality of eligible games are taken into consideration when evaluating online casino bonuses. Some bonuses may only apply to a limited selection of games, which could lead to unfavorable outcomes for players.

Therefore, our top-ranked online casino bonuses ideally encompass a wide array of eligible games, ensuring an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Player Eligibility.

We assess whether a bonus is available to new players, existing players, or both, to appropriately rank it and help users easily find and utilise the offers they qualify for.

Legitimacy And Legality

At Gamingzion.com, we prioritise the safety and legality of online gambling. Hence, all online casino bonuses we rank come from regulated online casinos, ensuring a legitimate and legal gaming experience. Offshore or illegal gambling content will never be featured on our platform.

Online Casino Bonus Codes For Existing Users

While sign-up welcome offers are often considered the best online casino bonuses, we understand that casinos also want to retain existing players. To cater to this, they consistently offer bonus codes for existing users. Here are some examples of such offers:

Game Of The Week

Many online casinos feature a weekly promotion called "Game of the Week." This allows players to enjoy special deals while playing a selected slot game. For instance, at King Billy Casino, players receive double the reward points when they play the designated Game of the Week.

Reload Bonus

A reload bonus is a type of deposit-match bonus aimed at existing members, not just new players. These online casino bonuses are typically modest, such as a 20% deposit match up to $50.

Bonus Spins

Bonus spins are a less common sign-up bonus, but existing users often receive them. Players who frequently play slots should keep an eye on their email inbox for personalised offers from the online casino. For example, BetMGM Casino offers "Free Spins Thursdays," where players can deposit $10 or more and receive Free Spins based on the deposit amount.

Slots Tournaments

In slots tournaments, players spin specific slots to climb the leaderboard and earn a share of the prize pool. The number of leaderboard points earned depends on the tournament and is usually based on either the size of each bet or the number of wins.

While winning the grand prize can be challenging, slots tournaments typically reward over 100 participating players, making the odds of winning a piece of the prize pool quite favourable.

Prize Pool Giveaways

Prize pool giveaways are similar to slots tournaments. However, the main difference is that players earn entries for a random prize drawing rather than accumulating leaderboard points. Sometimes, players can earn an unlimited number of entries. But in most cases, giveaways have a limited number of entries. This means that players cannot earn additional chances to win even if they continue playing the slot.

Online Casino Bonus Offers To Avoid

The tempting online casino bonuses offered by offshore online casinos may seem attractive. Yet it's crucial to exercise caution when considering such offers. There are several reasons why you should avoid bonus offers from offshore casinos, including:

Lack Of Regulation

Offshore casinos operate without the same level of regulations and oversight as those located in the United Kingdom or other countries with established gambling laws. Online gambling news tells us this lack of regulation can expose players to fraudulent activities. Also, players may have only limited recourse if something goes wrong.

Difficulty In Withdrawals

Offshore casinos often have complex or unclear terms and conditions for bonus offers. These may include high playthrough requirements or restrictions on withdrawing winnings. This can make it difficult or even impossible for players to withdraw their winnings. As such, rendering the online casino bonuses offered is practically useless.

Payment And Currency Concerns

When playing at offshore casinos, players may encounter different payment methods and currencies compared to those commonly used in the UK. This could lead to extra charges or complexities for players. Additionally, accurately determining the value of bonus offers might be challenging due to frequent fluctuations in currency conversion rates.

Security Risks

Offshore casinos may not provide the same level of security measures as those operating in countries with well-established gambling regulations. As a result, players might face increased vulnerability to hacking and other cybersecurity threats. Potentially exposing their personal and financial information to risk.

In Conclusion - Online Casino Bonuses

Despite the attractiveness of online casino bonuses, it's essential to be aware that they often come with strict requirements and conditions. Therefore, it's crucial to carefully review the terms and conditions before accepting any bonuses. Occasionally, there may be inconspicuous clauses that could lead to unpleasant surprises, making it prudent to be extra vigilant. However, when the bonuses are transparent, free from hidden fees and deceptive practices, we firmly believe that they can genuinely enhance the online gambling experience and make a significant positive impact.